Wagering game using cards and dice

ABSTRACT

A wagering game is disclosed utilizing both cards and dice. The instant invention is a fast-paced game wherein a dealer deals a card to each player making an initial bet, with the player optionally accepting a second card, and determining based on those cards whether to raise the initial bet. Additionally the player may make separate bets on numbers corresponding to the values shown on a plurality of dice, which are rolled after the card draws and raises are made. The player&#39;s number bets win based on the number of matches between the number wagered on and the dice shown, with possible increased payouts in the case of certain multiple matches combined with particular cards shown. Additionally, the player wins on the initial bet and raise bets if the total value of cards and dice shown exceed a threshold value without going over a maximum value.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from provisional application 61/125,229, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a game and method for playing a game involving the use of both cards and dice. As legalized gaming continues to expand throughout the world, and in particular, in the United States, there is an ongoing need for new games of chance. Despite the number of creative minds expending a great deal of energy in creating new games, the vast majority of these games do not find their way into casinos, due to various shortcomings such as slow pace of play, complex rules, poor player odds, and in some cases, the lack of a significant payout opportunity. Because of these hurdles, games typically found in a casino generally comprise traditional choices such as blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and various versions of poker. Even with the limited number of existing traditional table games, casinos have been slow to integrate new table games.

An additional reason for casinos' resistance to adoption of new table games is the rise in popularity of electronic gaming machines, wherein casinos have apportioned a higher percentage of their floor space for electronic gaming machines. In most cases, however, a table game may be adopted into an electronic format; a viable table game, therefore, can almost always provide a complimentary electronic gaming machine embodiment.

In order to provide casino patrons with a variety of gaming opportunities and novelty, there exists, therefore, an ongoing need for new table games which are exciting to play, which have relatively simple rules for quick mastery, and which provide reasonable odds to a player for winning.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention provide a wagering game having the desired characteristics and which add the novelty of using both dice and cards, which is an unusual manner of play not found in most casinos at this time.

In a live embodiment of the present invention, a table game layout, three dice, and one or more traditional decks of cards provide the basis for a wagering game. The instant invention can be played individually on a small table, substantially similar to a blackjack table in size. Play is a combination of elements of a traditional fast-paced card game such as blackjack with the addition of dice, adding to the variety of outcomes and allowing for increased player excitement through higher payouts accompanying certain results. Several betting options are available which essentially makes the instant game two games in one.

Basic play resembles blackjack, with some substantial differences. Initial bets may be placed on the final total score of cards plus dice as well as on six numbers corresponding to the number count on the six-sided dice used. A card is dealt initially to each player; the player may elect whether to take an additional card. If, after the conclusion of dealing, the player has certain cards, the player may additionally elect to add a raise bet on the final total score. After these bets are placed, three communal dice are rolled by the dealer, with the resultant values obtained by the roll being used by all of a plurality of players. If one or more of the dice matches a number selected by a player, that player wins a payout, which may be increased if the player has been dealt certain cards, i.e., if three identical dice are rolled and one of the previously drawn cards additionally matches or is a face card (jack, queen or king in a traditional card deck), the player wins an increased payout.

It will be understood that point values for the cards are assigned as in traditional casino games such as blackjack or baccarat (i.e., numbered cards are worth their face indicia, and face cards are worth 10), with the suits having no rank. Similarly, the point values of the dice are the face value or pip count, with six-sided dice being preferred.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Playing table

FIG. 2 Detail of individual playing station

FIG. 3 Flow chart detailing order of game play and betting options

FIG. 4 Flow chart detailing bet resolution

CATALOG OF ELEMENTS

-   100 Playing table for individual play -   110 Dice -   112 Cards (one or more decks) -   120 Bet area -   122 Dice number bet areas     -   124 Ante bet area     -   126 Raise bet area

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a gaming table generally denoted 100 is provided. The table 100 includes a plurality of betting areas 120 as further described herein. These betting spaces are reproduced on the table 100 in a plurality of sets, but it will be readily understood that a description of one set will adequately describe the others. In particular, a betting area 120 is provided having numbered betting areas 122 corresponding to the numbers on the dice 110 whereby a player may make one or more numbered wagers by placing the wager(s) in the corresponding betting space(s). (It will be understood that in this embodiment, the dice 110 are cubes, i.e., have six sides, although other variations are possible.) Additionally, an ante betting space 124 is provided, as well as a raise betting area 126. When placing initial bets, players may make an initial ante wager (also referred to as the “primary wager”) on the final score, which is computed by adding the values of card dealt to the players as described herein as well as the values of the communal dice 110 rolled by the dealer. Additionally, the player may make up to three wagers (“match wagers” or “numbered wagers”) on the final values displayed by the dice 110 after they are rolled. It will be understood that players may make either the ante wager, match wager(s), or both, but that neither wager is a necessary requirement for a player to play the instant game so long as at least one initial wager is made.

After the initial wager(s) are made, a dealer deals a card 112 to each player who has made an ante wager. Each player may then elect to take an additional card 112 (“hit”). If a player hits, the dealer deals the additional card 112. At this stage, the player may elect to make an additional wager (“raise wager” or “secondary wager”) if the player's dealt cards 112 meet certain criteria. In this embodiment, the player may make a raise wager if the player has a single ace (in which case the player may wager up to three times his initial ante wager), or if the total of his card(s) is exactly seven (in which case the player may wager up to seven times the initial ante wager). After these additional wagers, if any, are made, the dealer rolls the dice 110, which are preferably provided in either a shrouded cage or shrouded cup (to increase the excitement of the game as well as its security be separating the dice 110 from direct contact with any person as well as by keeping the results of the roll secret until they may be revealed dramatically). Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of different dice cage or cup apparatuses customarily used in a number of different existing casino games to be suitable for this purpose.

Following the roll, the dice 110 are examined to determine if any of the numbers shown match any of the number wagers placed by the player. If so, then any players who made initial bets on the numbered betting spaces 122 are paid: 1 to 1 for one die matching the number wager, 2 to 1 for two dice matching the particular number wager, and 6 to 1 for three dice matching that number wager. If three matching dice are revealed, the player's card are additionally examined, with a 20 to 1 payout for three dice matching plus a face card (king, queen, or jack), or 40 to 1 if three dice matching the number wager are revealed and the player additionally has a card matching that value. For example, if a player places number bets on one and three, and the dice 110 each show a three, the player's bet on one loses, but the bet on three wins 6 to 1 with no special cards, 20 to 1 if the player has been dealt a face card, or 40 to 1 if the player has been dealt a three.

Additionally, the total value of the player's dealt cards 112 are added to the total of the values of the dice rolled. If the total is at least sixteen, but not more than eighteen, the player's ante and raise wagers are returned (“push”). If the total is nineteen or twenty, the player receives a 1 to 1 payout, and if the total is 21, the player receives a 2 to 1 payout. A total of less than sixteen or less than 21 results in the player losing the ante and raise wagers. After making these determinations and paying off any winning wagers, the table is cleared and the instant game begins again.

Tables showing the odds and general percentages by which a player may be expected to win, lose, or push is given in the appendix hereto, which contains additional description of the game and is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

It will be understood that while specific embodiments of the instant invention have been described, other variants are possible and are encompassed within this description. In particular, games of this general type may be devised wherein polyhedral dice with, for example, eight or ten sides are used, or wherein the number of dice is varied from the three-dice variant described in detail herein. Additionally, restrictions may be placed on how face cards interact with the dice on the numbered betting wagers to modify the probabilities of winning wagers and on the outcome of wagers placed on the total sum of dice and cards. It will additionally be understood that other embodiments are possible in the number of cards or types of cards which are available, and these variations are contemplated in the instant invention. Furthermore, while the instant description focuses predominantly on live versions of the instant game, it will be understood that the method of play as described herein may be easily adapted to function with electronic means whereby the dealer is essentially replaced by a machine and all physical aspects of the instant invention are replaced with display screens and other electronic mechanisms for providing a “virtual” game to the player. These and other variations which will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art will be readily understood to be encompassed by the instant invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. The method of playing a game using a combination of dice and cards comprising the following steps: a. allowing one or more players to make one or more initial wagers; b. dealing zero or more initial cards bearing indicia to each of said players; c. dealing zero or more additional cards bearing indicia to each of said players; d. allowing each of said players to make one or more secondary wagers after said dealing of said additional cards; e. rolling one or more dice bearing indicia on each face of said dice; and f. determining the outcome of said primary and secondary wagers based either on the indicia rolled on said dice or on a combination of the indicia rolled on said dice and the indicia displayed on said card(s).
 2. The method of playing a game using a combination of dice and cards comprising the following steps: a. allowing one or more players to make one or more initial wagers; b. dealing zero or more initial cards bearing indicia to each of said players; c. allowing each of said players to make one or more secondary wagers after said dealing of said initial cards; d. dealing zero or more additional cards bearing indicia to each of said players; e. allowing each of said players to make one or more tertiary wagers after said dealing of said additional cards; f. rolling one or more dice bearing indicia on each face of said dice; and g. determining the outcome of said primary, secondary, and tertiary wagers based either on the indicia rolled on said dice or on a combination of the indicia rolled on said dice and the indicia displayed on said card(s).
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said indicia on said faces of said dice are representative of consecutive integral values beginning with one and ending with the number of said faces of said dice.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein said indicia on said faces of said dice are representative of consecutive integral values beginning with one and ending with the number of said faces of said dice.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said indicia on said cards are representative of a numerical value.
 6. The method of claim 2 wherein said indicia on said cards are representative of a numerical value.
 7. The method of claim 3 wherein said indicia on said cards are representative of a numerical value.
 8. The method of claim 4 wherein said indicia on said cards are representative of a numerical value.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said indicia on said cards are selected from a group consisting of the indicia found on an ordinary 52-card deck.
 10. The method of claim 2 wherein said indicia on said cards are selected from a group consisting of the indicia found on an ordinary 52-card deck.
 11. The method of claim 3 wherein said indicia on said cards are selected from a group consisting of the indicia found on an ordinary 52-card deck.
 12. The method of claim 4 wherein said indicia on said cards are selected from a group consisting of the indicia found on an ordinary 52-card deck.
 13. The method of playing a game using a combination of dice and cards comprising the following steps: a. allowing one or more players to make at least one initial wager, wherein said initial wagers further comprise a primary wager and zero or more numbered wagers, wherein each of said numbered wagers corresponds to a given integral number; b. dealing one or more initial cards bearing indicia to each of said players who made a primary wager; c. dealing zero or more additional cards bearing indicia to each of said players who made a primary wager; d. allowing each of said players to make one or more secondary wagers after said dealing of said additional cards; e. rolling one or more dice bearing indicia on each face of said dice; f. determining the outcome of each of said players' said primary and secondary wagers by combining the indicia displayed on that player's cards with the indicia displayed on said die or dice and comparing said combination of indicia to a predetermined table of results; and g. determining the outcome of said numbered wagers by comparing said integral number corresponding to said wager to the indicia displayed on the face(s) of said die or dice.
 13. The method of playing a game using a combination of dice and cards comprising the following steps: a. allowing one or more players to make at least one initial wager, wherein said initial wagers further comprise a primary wager and zero or more numbered wagers, wherein each of said numbered wagers corresponds to a given integral number; b. dealing one or more initial cards bearing indicia to each of said players who made a primary wager; c. allowing each of said players who made a primary wager to make a secondary wager; d. dealing zero or more additional cards bearing indicia to each of said players who made a primary wager; e. allowing each of said players to make one or more tertiary wagers after said dealing of said additional cards; e. rolling one or more dice bearing indicia on each face of said dice; f. determining the outcome of each of said players' said primary, secondary, and tertiary wagers by combining the indicia displayed on that player's cards with the indicia displayed on said die or dice and comparing said combination of indicia to a predetermined table of results; and g. determining the outcome of said numbered wagers by comparing said integral number corresponding to said wager to the indicia displayed on the face(s) of said die or dice.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said indicia on said faces of said dice are representative of consecutive integral values beginning with one and ending with the number of said faces of said dice, and wherein said integral numbers begin with one and end with the number of said faces of said dice.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein said indicia on said cards are representative of a numerical value.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein said indicia on said cards are representative of a numerical value.
 17. The method of claim 13 wherein said indicia on said cards are selected from a group consisting of the indicia found on an ordinary 52-card deck.
 18. The method of claim 14 wherein said indicia on said cards are selected from a group consisting of the indicia found on an ordinary 52-card deck. 